Heartless [2018, PDF/EPUB, ENG]

by Marissa Meyer

(7,219 ratings)
Book cover

From Marissa Meyer, the #1 New York Times–bestselling story of Wonderland's most notorious villain: the Queen of Hearts.

Long before she was the terror of Wonderland―the infamous Queen of Hearts―she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next queen.

Then Cath meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the king and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship. Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

In
Heartless, her first stand-alone teen novel, the New York Times-bestselling author of the Lunar Chronicles dazzles us with a prequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.


Praise for Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles series:

#1
New York Times Bestselling Series, USA Today Bestseller, Publishers Weekly Bestseller, National Indie Bestseller

“Marissa Meyer rocks the fractured fairy tale genre.” ―
The Seattle Times

“Prince Charming among the cyborgs.” ―
The Wall Street Journal

Don't miss more from Marissa Meyer:

The Lunar Chronicles:
Cinder
Scarlet
Cress
Winter
Stars Above

Fairest

The Wires and Nerve series:
Wires and Nerve: Volume 1
Wires and Nerve: Volume 2

Renegades

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Book details


  • Retail price : from $9.34
  • Author : Marissa Meyer
  • Publisher : Square Fish; Reprint edition
  • Published : 04-30-2018
  • Language : English
  • Pages : 480
  • ISBN-10 : 1250148189
  • ISBN-13 : 978-1250148186
  • Reader Reviews : 7,219 (4.6)

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  • File Formats : PDF, FB2, DOC, EPUB, TXT
  • Status : available for FREE download
  • Downloads : 3548

About the Author


Marissa Meyer


Marissa Meyer is a fangirl at heart, with a closet full of costumes, a Harry Potter wand on her desk, and a Tuxedo Mask doll hanging from her rear view mirror. Han and Leia are still her OTP. She may or may not be a cyborg.

Marissa is also the NYT bestselling author of a number of books for teens, including The Lunar Chronicles, the Renegades Trilogy, and Heartless.

Sign up for her newsletter at http://www.marissameyer.com or follow her on social media:

Instagram: @marissameyerauthor

Pinterest: @marissameyerauthor

Facebook: @marissameyerauthor

Twitter: @marissa_meyer

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Reader Reviews

J
Kindle Customer
best book ever
Reviewed in the United States on 05-11-2023
It was so twisted and I loved it! I cried so hard. This is now one of my favorites. I thought mary ann was annoying.'.
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J
Shea T.
Grande Beginning; Rushed Climactic Ending
Reviewed in the United States on 12-06-2016
A wonderous if not heartbreaking tale of the Queen of Hearts path to wrathful tyranny. It opens to describe a Lady of noble birth who's greatest dream is to utilize her talented baking skills to attempt the unheard of (at least for one of her status)--open a bakery! Unfortunately, for her, her parents have different ideas, and instead--knowing of the whimsical and simple-minded King of Hearts affection for her and her confections--have plotted her ascent to the throne. A path Catherine is blindsided by, so wrapped in her own dreams is she; both literally and figuratively. On the very night she realizes she is to be proposed to, she meets the gaze of the newly arrived and enigmatic court jester--the aptly named Jest. And his eyes are intimately familair, for they are the same that she dreamt of the night before. Caught between her dreams, her desires, and the weighty expectations of others, Catherine struggles to make a decision. In the end, however, ...her fate is set.If you're reading this for a happy ending, look elsewhere folks. It's not here. Afterall, this is the story of how the wretched Queen of Hearts came to be, not an alternative ending. On that note, let's talk characters. Jest is obviously a favorite, being so mysterious and alluring...and yet, he is not fulfilling...not because he as a character falls flat...but because at a certain point in the book, information is just thrown at you. It's not presented as a furthering of character enhancement, but simple fact and in the end there is still so much that you don't know about Jest and where he comes from. The same can be said for Hatta or the would-be soon Mad Hatter. Both are well designed characters who you desperately want to know more about...but never really do. There is much to be explored in their characterization and their history with the land they come from. But, it is never touched, instead, you're given just enough detail to comprehend the story, but not enough to feel it is whole. And then there is of course, the main character...Firstly, let me just start off by saying, Catherine is immensely frustrating. I've looked at the reviews of other readers and found that many just can't relate to her. And that is understandable, because Catherine is the type of person that many people misunderstand. For me and probably others like myself, she is relatable. The main character, Catherine, Lady Pinkerton of Rock Turtle Cove...is sadly and unfortunately a people pleaser. She's got talent and grand dreams that she so desperately desires...but never so much as to upset the ones who place so much expectation on her. To onlookers, Catherine is a silly girl, born to a high position, but wanting a dream outside of it. Because she states one thing, but acts outside of it, she comes off as a wishy-washy, fickle, flake. But, the truth is...she is simply torn. Torn between her heart--it's own desires and the need to keep those around her happy. In the end, Catherine never manages to pursue her own desires until fueled with her own anger. If you were to ask my opinion, I'd say Catherine is a character with deep seated anger issues--ones that no one noticed not even she, herself. A seething rage that started small, probably with the chastizing of her unlady like love of being in the kitchen and has just silently been built upon as she tries to keep everyone happy; bottling her own misery and slapping on an agreeable facade all for the sake of peace. All the while letting annoyance and anger quietly simmer beneath several layers of complacency and escapism via the one thing that gives her joy; the dream of being a successful bakery owner. Of course, when she suffers the loss of her dream and the lover that represented so much more for her than passion, but, a way out of the weight of expectations and even more so, freedom of choice...it's hardly a wonder she lost her head. (Bad pun intended.) People always think that the signs of a break should be loud and noticeable, but they're subtle...with only the most astute being able to see the inevitable. Much like a natural disaster, the early signs are always there...but no one heeds them until lightning strikes. Catherine's moments of rage seem to be the only times where she is capable of being truly decisive and direct and that is a sign in itself. Like most breaking points, her own starts off with misery and hysterics, until in the end she embraces her rage and allows it to consume her. And thus the beginning of the Queen of Hearts.Overall, I did very much like this story...however, I feel that in the onset of the 3rd quarter of the book it suddenly began to feel rushed and that definitely ruined a lot of the connection to the characters--especially Jest and Hatta. The story picks up its pace rushing to the end, all the while dropping details like scattered bread crumbs in various directions. I feel that this book would have benefited from not only being made into a duology, but also if Catherine and her crew *SPOILER* had actually made it to Chess. We already knew that she would end up being the Queen of Hearts despite her intentions, but I think it would have been fascinating and a more fulfilling tale if she'd actually gotten there and had to return for some reason or other. I had actually read this with the assumption that this would be a series...so when I got closer to the end and realized this was it...I was a bit pained. I can only hope that Ms. Meyers will write a companion book that will expound on the world that is Chess.'.
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J
Sofia
My fav book of all time
Reviewed in the United States on 04-28-2023
Queen of hearts retelling'.
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